INPA04062131

Word 'sarkari’ (of Government) is painted black on a signboard of an English wine shop near Delhi in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on, June 04, 2021. Words like 'sarkari’ and 'theka’ used to be common sight outside liquor shops in Uttar Pradesh but the words now stand prohibited. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh in January issued a directive to remove the words 'sarkari’ and 'thekas’ from outside the shops selling liquor in the state. Now, the signboards outside the liquor shops will read beer shop or English wine shop or liquor shop. After the Excise Department’s directive, shops in UP are hiding the now-banned terms with paint on their signboards. Photo Credit: Indian Photo Agency (InPA)